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VERNO 



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I BY 

JOSEPH B. FOWLER 




j WASHINGTON, D. C. 

j Printed by RICHARD A. MACOMB, National Republican Building. 

1876. 



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Entered accortling to Act of Congress, in the year 1876. by 

JOSEPH B . F O W L E iJ . 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



COls^TEI^TS. 



I'AOK. 

descensus averno 5 

reveries- 
Alone 81 

Eva 33 

The Castle 30 

Unforgotten 39 

Wrecked 41 

The Plains of Dakota 43 

The Forest Stream 47 

vir dolorum 53 

:\iiscellanies— 

Good Night 61 

I Love You 03 

The Poet's Apology 65 

Drinking Song 60 

Reconciliation ' 08 

Paradise 09 

The Journey 70 

To Etta 72 



Z CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

RIPPLES— 

The Evening Chant at Accotink 77 

Old Gorman 82 

Elegy on the Dp:ath of Susie's Kitten. ... 85 

Jemmy McBride 87 

The Head of the Family 92 

A Musical Misfortune 95 

The Prodigai 98 

Brevity 100 

The Village Cobbler 103 



%M) 



§: 



SLj: 







Descensus I^verno. 



B 




ID lurid flames, whose dim, uncertain 

light 
Intensifies the darkness of the night; 
I^Tow risino; hio-h, revealino^ by their o;]are 
The dreary realms of sorrow and despair ; 
Now falling low, and darkening, as they fall. 
Hell's gloomy plains and loathsome caverns all, 
Expectant, mute and motionless, alone 
In solemn state upon his ebon throne, 
Beelzebub, the Prince of Hell, awaits, 
With anxious gaze toward the frowning gates, 
The coming, long delayed, of Satan; him 
Whose lordly presence in these regions dim 
Serves every fear among his hosts to quell ; 
Whose lengthened absence makes a void in hell. 



6 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

Around the throne, awaiting there tlieir king, 

In deep solicitude, on anxious wing. 

Hell's legions hover in the murky air 

And to their absent chieftain breathe a prayer : 

Hasten, Chieftain! 

Thy presence we need. 
Hither, Master! 

Come hither with speed. 

Satan, Ave wait thee! 

0, why thy delay ? 
Dangers surround us 

And thou art away ! 

Fearless and bold 

Have thy prisoners grown — 
They mock us, defy us. 

And threaten thy throne ! 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 7 

Linger not, Master! 

Come hither with speed. 
Hasten, Chieftain ! 

Thy presence we need. 

The prince was silent, resolute, and firm ; 
While far as eye could reach ^ in caverns deep 
Around him lay, in chains, the prisoned souls 
He held as trophies of a conquered world: 
That world where Satan with his pliant tongue, 
In serpent's guise, with cunning and deceit, 
Had fell destruction wrought; had left his trail 
Of woe and misery, of sin and death — 
A blot so foul — upon the last, the best. 
The fairest work of God ; had rudely torn 
From Eden's innocence and converse sweet 
With angels, from tlie love and confidence 
Of his Creator, the new-created Man ; 
With specious pleas of knowledge to be gained 
By disobedience to the will of God, 



8 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

Had torn him thence and left him bare, debased, 
Ignorant, and helpless on the blighted earth. 

And now upon that earth, which sin has 
cursed 
Since Eden's withered flowers in sorrow drooped, 
Walks One whom all the elements obey ; 
Who by his word controls the powers of hell ; 
Who causes fell disease and all the hosts 
Of fiends to flee his presence; One whose fame 
Has reached and shaken hell's remotest bounds: 
Him, Satan, rushing once again to earth, 
Has sought in deadly strife. Once more he 

seeks 
To match his strength against the Son of 

God ; 
To mount, a victor, to the Throne of Heaven, 
Or, losing all, sink deeper into hell. 

That fearful strife on earth is felt throughout 
The dark abodes of death ; from central throne 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 9 

To utmost verge of for circumference, 
The dismal kingdom shakes as with the shod: 
Of rolling earthquake, rocking to and fro; 
The prisoned dead bestir themselves and move 
Uneasy in their l)eds ; their mutterings low. 
Like distant thunders, but the prelude seem 
Of some unwonted storm. 

Lol Satan comes 
With speed that far outstrips the lightning's 

flash; 
Like rush of tempest sound his mighty wings 
Cleaving through space. He comes with sword 

unsheathed, 
A\^ith armor on. Far off his voice is heard 
Shouting for joy : 

Lo! as a conqueror 

Homeward I fly! 
Who in the Lni verse 

Greater than I? 



10 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

0, ye bright angels, 
Your God I defy ! 

Who in the Universe 
Greater than I? 

Hell, let your mighty host 

Answer my cry ! 
Who in the Universe 

Greater than I ? 

Open, Hell, your brazen portal ! 

I have triumphed once again ; 
He, the Son of God, is mortal — 

Dies in pain as other men ! 
He who healed the sick and dying, — 

Marred the work I wrought so well. 
Sent my routed legions flying, 

Wild with terror, back to hell ; 
He who sought to overthrow me — 

Place my head beneath his heel — 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 11 

Xow is conquered — now shall know me — 

^ow my scornful vengeance feel ! 
I prepared the cords that bound him ; 

jS'ails for hands and feet I brouo-ht ; 
Sharpened I the spear to wound him ; 

By my hand his cross was wrought. 
8treno;th I o-ave the arm that scour o-ed him ; 

On his brow the thorns I pressed ; 
Up the mount of death I urged him — 

Gave his weary limbs no rest. 
I provoked the Jews to slay him — 

Stirred the rabble — led the cry — 
Counseled Judas to betray him ; 

They the tools — the workman, 1 1 
On my own strong arm relying, 

Stood I by tlie hital tree ; 
Heard his fearful cry when dying: 

Why has God forsaken me ! 
He, the Son of God, is mortal — 

Dies a felon on the tree ; 



12 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

Prince of Hell, unbar thy portal, 
I will bring him clown to thee ! 

Shout in triumph, mj legions ! 

Let your wild, exultant cry 
Ring through all the upper regions — 

Pierce the portals of the sky ! 
Shout until the swarming nations 

Prostrate fall l^eneath my rod ! 
Shout until the constellations 

Hear, and tremble at my nod — 
Till the loud reverberations 

Roll around the Throne of God ! 

He ceased: A moment's pause, and then arose 
From all the myriad spirits gathered there 
AVhom sin had blasted with its lightning-stroke, 
And up from out tlie dark, unfathomed depths, 
A shout of bold defiance, mountino- hioli 
And slathering strength, as on from crag to crag 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 13 

It bore aloft upon its swelling tide 

The pent-up wrath of ages. On it rolled 

Through space unmeasured, past uncounted 

worlds, 
Until its stormy billows dashed and broke 
Against the pearly gates of Paradise. 

Unmoved the chieftain stood amid the throno;: 
That shout of triumph thrilled his being through 
Until the last faint echoes died away 
Like sound of waves upon a distant shore. 

With faltering voice the Prince of Hell replied 
To Satan, towering in his haughty pride. 
As he, with scornful lip, and head erect. 
And lofty brow with diadem bedecked, 
Stood like a statue. Standing thus he seemed 
The embodiment of victory. Fiercely gleamed 
His star-like eyes upon the Prince of Hell, 
As though he sought to read the thought his 

lips were slow to tell. 



14 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

Beware, Satan! thus the prince began: 
Beware, I beg thee, of this mighty one! 
Tliy power is only over those who sin ; 
And what great evil liath he ever done? 
Bring him not hither; for I fear that he 
Is that sa'me Jesus who by force dragged forth, 
From out the all-devouring jaws of Death, 
Lazarus, our prisoner. Loud rang his voice 
Throughout our vast domain ; so clear, so loud 
It rang that all our strong foundations swayed 
And tremlded at the sound: as though the 

voice 
Of Him whose laws pervade all space; who 

spake 
All things that are from chaos, had again 
To chaos all consigcned. Fear fell on all. 
The ponderous gates of brass asunder burst ; 
The bars of iron broke. Come forth ! he cried : 
And Lazarus, he whom Death had l)rought us, 

bound. 



DESCENSTTS AVERNO. 15 

Sprang up with smiles of joy upon his face. 
And hope within his eyes w^hence new life 

heamed; 
Dashed throuo-h hell's o;ates, unchalleno-ed, while 

our guards — 
Our sentinel hosts stood mute and powerless by. 

And now our prisoners have defiant grown, 
And bear their chains as though they feel them 

not ; 
No sighs, no groans escape them, but instead 
They cheer each other with some secret hope 
Of rescue from the power of death and hell. 
All this since Lazarus left them at the call 
Of him whom thou,witli l)oasting,callest thine — 
Thy prisoner! 0, beware, ere yet too late! 

I fear him, Satan, for I feel that he 
Is greater than the powers of hell combined. 
Thine enemy and mine, he will release 
Our captives, and our kingdom will destroy; 



16 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

And tliou and I, with all our faithful hosts, 
Outcasts from hell, as ages i)ast from heaven 
All I whither shall we go ? 

! stay thy hand 
I beg thee, Satan; pause and ponder well 
Ere thou, in heedless haste, bring down to us 
This mighty being who, w^hile on the earth, 
In form of man, can thus in hell command, 
And force our subjects to obey his will. 

Pause, Satan, I implore thee ! 

By the hopes I base on thee ; 
By our safety, I adjure thee 

Bring, bring him not to me ! 
By the oath which us united 

On the plains of Heaven when we 
Swore our wrongs should all be righted ; 
By the faith which then we plighted ; 
By the hopes which then were bliglited, 

Bring, bring him not to me I 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 17 

Satan, see ! the dead, uprising. 

Fiercely glare their gleaming eyes 1 

Look around 1 0, how surprising 
Thus to see the dead arise ! 

See that light, so brilliant, flashing 
Purple radiance through the gloom ; 

Hear that roar, like armies clashing, 
Eound about these gates of doom ! 

Closely shut the brazen portals! 

Spring the bolts of iron strong ! 
Back unto your chains, ye mortals, — 

Back at once where ye belong 1 
Haste, Satan, with your legions 

Haste unto the outer wall ! 
Let him enter not these regions 

Lest our throne — our kingdom — fall I 






18 DESCENSUS AVERXO. 

g^l'^^LL this Avhile, Satan stood in dunib 
wonder — 
His eyes on the portals of hell. 
Then a sound like the crashing of tlmnder 

Smote, smote on his ears like a knell ; 
And a voice like the roaring of waters 

AVas heard, sounding clear through the din, 
Crj'ing, Lift up your gates, ye princes ! 
The great King of Glory api)roaches ; 
Ye hrazen gates, be ye uplifted. 

And let Him triumpliantly in 1 

Who, Avho is this great King of Glorj^ 
That comes to our presence unhidden, 
And causes dismay and confusion 

Through all our vast kingdom to spread? 
Thus shouted the })rince of the devils, 
While all his cowed legions were flying ; 
To him royal David, replying 

With voice full of melody, said : 



DESCENSUS AVERXO. 19 

The Lord of the Earth and the Heavens, — 
The Lord strong and mighty in Inittle, — 
The Lord of all love and all mercy ! 
He, He is the great King of Glory 

Who comes to these regions of sin — 
His wonnded liml)S bleeding and gory — 

With joy we will welcome Him in I 

Then, sing your loud paeans, ye ransomed I 
The Lord, your Redeemer, approaches; 
Prepare ye to meet your Deliverer 
From death and the thraldom of sin ! 

Then, lift u}) your gates, ye princes ! 
The great King of Glory approaches ; 
Ye brazen gates, be ye uplifted, 
And let our Deliverer in ! 

Behold 1 while David's voice aroused the dead, 
The mighty Lord in form of man appeared ; 



20 DESCENSUS AA^ERNO. 

Such brilliant halo round his sacred head 
That hell, where night her sombre throne had 

reared, 
Grew brighter than the sun at noon. He came, 
And those who had for lengthening ages slept 
Beneath the shadow of Death's mighty wing 
Awakened to receive the light. He came 
And broke the bonds — the fetters which l)efore 
Could not be broken. He, the Healer, came. 
And those whom sin had bruised, had wounded 

sore. 
At once were whole. The mighty CV^nqueror 

came. 
And Death and Hell lay prostrate at his feet. 
The Man Victorious came with outstretched 

arms — - 
With human love within his human heart. 
And brought release to every captive soul. 
80 that hell rang with loud, triumphant shouts: 
grave, where is thy victory ? Death, 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 21 

AVbere is tliv sting? The King of (tIoit came 
In power and might and Majesty Divine, 
And all the hosts of hell, affrighted, fled — 
Fled from his presence wailing. 

Far off they stood 
And gazed in wonder, seeing Satan ])onnd 
In chains before the Prince of Hell. Then turned 
And, looking in each others' faces, said : 

Woe to the hiiglity one ! Satan is vanc|uishe(l ! 

Shorn of his strength and l:)rought low in 
disgrace ! 
Woe to his legions, now broken and powerless, 

Fleeing in fear from the Conqueror's face ! 

O, whence is this wonderful being — 
His brow with such majesty crowned ? 

W^ho comes as a king to these regions. 
And not as a prisoner, bound ! 



22 DESCENSUS AVERXO. 

Who art thou, wonderful being ! 

Xo sign of corruption to shoAV ? 
Whose glory illumines the darkness, 

And brightens these regions of woe ; 
Wh(^ comes with the step of a concpieror 

Where trembling and fear have held sway, 
And causes our legions to waver 

And flee from thy presence away ; 
Bringing joy to these dreary dominions 

Where sorrow and sighing should he; 
Breaking down the strong bars of our prisons, 

And setting our prisoners free I 
Who art thou, wonderful l)eing ! 

Such glory and might to attain? 
So bright as to l)e without Ijlemish, — 

So pure as to l)e without stain. 
For the earth, which to us has been sulyect 

Since Adam from Paradise fell, 
Heretofore never sent such a tribute 

As this to the kinsfdom of hell^ — 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. 23 

ISTever sent such an unwelcome present 
As this to the princes of hell ! 

0, hear the dread sentence pronouncing 

On him who our legions has led : 
Lo ! Prince, I consign to thy keeping 

My prisoner, Satan, instead 
Of the hosts of the children of Adam, 

A\^H0M he into evil hath led; — ■ 
Whom I have redeemed by my passion — 

My blood upon Calvary shed ! 

See Satan, discrowned and dejected — 

His lofty plumes trailing so low ; 
His flaming eyes fearfully flashing 

Defiance and scorn at his Foe ! 

And we, who have followed our chieftain — 
Have lived in the light of his eye — 

Are scattered, like leaves by the tempest, 
And forced in confusion to fly I 



24 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 

Come Darkness, and shelter thy children ! 

Come Xight, Avith thy black, brooding wings 1 
Receive us, and hide ns forever 

From the tace of the dread King of Kings ! 

^M|EAXA\^niLE, the dead in myriads ap- 

plj peared— 

^ '^'^'The newly dead and those who had for 

years, 
For centuries waited for this glorious hour — 
And gathered round their Lord. There, at their 

head, 
Stood Adam, father of the countless throng, 
Whose disobedience to God's plain command 
Had brought them to this pass. There Solomon 
The sao:e. There David, he whose silver tono-ue 
Had made Judea's hills and valleys ring- 
Chanting God's praise. The hol}^ prophets there, 
And all the chosen ones of old — all those 
Who, mindful of the promise, served the Lord 



DESCENSUS AVERXO. 25 

On earth, and who had waited long in hell ; 
Had borne in patience all the taunts, the sneers, 
The insults of the mocking, jeering crew. 
And waited for this hour. 

And now tliey come 
From every nation, every trihe and tongue, 
With smiles of joy upon their lips, and eyes 
In expectation fixed upon their Lord. 

Before Him there, in reverence, every knee 
Is bent and every tongue with joy proclaims 
The name of Jesus, and to Him ascril)es 
All lionor, praise, dominion, evermore. 

Far off, hells legions heard that name, and hid 
Their faces, blanched with fear. 

Then Jesus spake 
To Adam, saying : l^eace be unto thee 
And thy posterity ! And, stretching forth 
His all-embracing arms. He cried : 



26 DESCENSUS AVERNO. 



A'^/W OME YE, iiiv chosen ones, formed in 
^^.^gf, my image — 

Ye wlio by sin from y(^nr first estate 
fell 1 
I have released you from pain and from sorrow — 
I have redeemed you from death and from 
hell I 
Come 1 I will lead you beside the still waters, 

Up to the mansions prepared for the blest. 
Lo ! I have l)orne all your sins and your 
sorrows — 
Come unto me and forever find rest ! 

The throng of ransomed, rising from their 
knees 
With shouts of glad rejoicing, followed Him 
Who led them up the sliining way to Heaven; 
Singing as they went : — 



DESCENSUS AVERNO. '^7 

Strike your liaqis, ye liapp}' angels 

Waiting on the golden shore ! 
We, the ransomed ones, are coming — 

Coming home forevermore I 
Through earth's sin and pain and sorrow; 
Through the dark and silent river ; 
Through the Valley of the Shadow, 

Coming home forevermore ! 
Glory to the mighty (Conqueror 

AVhom we honor, love, adore ; 
I^raise unto our great Redeemer ; 

Jesus reio-ns forevermore ! 




fT^ 



w 







EYERIES. 



•Mf-oo. 



m 



:mo\u 






iJ%A HILE the sun is Ijrightly beaming 
^^^ And the fields witli life are teeming ; 
While among the leafy branches happy l)irds in 
chorus sing — 

All the air with music filling, 
With their warbling and their trilling, 
With their songs of glad rejoicing at the coming 
of the spring; 



While the sportive zephyr kisses 
Lips and cheeks of rosy misses 
Who, without a care or sorrow, roam the bloom- 
ing fields to-day. 



32 ALONE. 

Or who sit in shaclj^ bowers 
Weaving wreaths of tender Howers 
AVith the which to crown the forehead of their 
chosen qneen of ^lay ; 

While the ghaddened earth rejoices, 
With her myriads of voices, 
And the busy bees and butterflies are flitting 
on the wing, 

I apart am sitting, lonely, 
Thinking thoughts of anguish onlj — 
I alone am not rejoicing at the coming of the 
spring. 

! I linger, broken-hearted, 
Since my love and I are parted — 
We who i)lanned to start together on the voyage 
of life to-day. 

She beneath the sod is sleeping 
And above it I am weeping 
While all nature is rejoicing at the sweet return 
of May. 



EVA. 33 



,l|f HE shades of evening softly fell 
%ig| On iloweiy bank and mossy dell, 
"^^^ ^ When I my tale of love did tell 
To thee, my own sweet Eva. 

The earth liad donned her robes of green ; 
The air was balm ; the sky serene ; 
But, mid the beauty of the scene, 
I saw but thee, fair Eva. 

A¥hile silvery notes from many a l)ird 
Swelled on the air, I only heard 
The music of that one sweet word 
Of thine, my gentle Eva. 



34 EVA. 

The regal roses paled before 
Thy blushing beauty as I SAvore 
That I would love thee evermore — 
Would love thee only, Eva. 

The bloom of health was on thy face 
As thou, with every gentle grace 
Endowed, within that hallowed place, 
Didst give thy promise, Eva. 

The glowing sunset seemed to shed 
Immortal radiance round thy head, 
AYhile youth and hope their glories s^^read 
About thy pathway, Eva. 



The grass is springing green once more ; 
The birds are singing as of yore ; 
But I, alas I am weeping o'er 
Thy grave, fair angel, Eva. 



EVA. 35 

The roses bloom above thy head ; 
For thee my bitter tears are shed ; 
For Hope has fled and Joy is dead 
With thee, my own loved Eva. 



^>zJk^i 



36 THE CASTLE. 

Z\)c Castle. 

r^^' XCE I reared myself a castle 
\S^^-- In the kingdom of the Soul — 
Reared a grand, majestic castle 
In the kingdom of the Soul. 
As I gazed upon my dwelling 
"With my l)osom proudly swelling, 
All my feelings, grandly welling, 

Eose beyond the earth's control; 
And, through tempests wildly roaring. 
Sped my happy spirit, soaring 
Onward, onward to my castle 
In the kingdom of the Soul. 

There it stood in all its beauty 
In the kingdom of tho Soul — 

All its architectural beauty 
In the kino-dom of the Soul. 



THE CASTLE. 37 

0, the liappy, liappy hours 

Passed amid those blooming bowers 1 

Where the vines around the towers 

Creeping, slowly upward stole ; 
While an angel-voice was singing, 
And a happ}^ laugh was ringing. 
Sweetly ringing through that castle 
In the kingdom of the Soul. 

I no longer have a castle 

In the kingdom of the Soul — 
Xo suljlimely towering castle 

In the kingdom of the Soul. 
For the demon, Desolation, 
Hath destroyed its fair foundation ; 
And his shouts of exultation, 

Like the deafening thunders, roll 
O'er my spirit crushed and broken ; 
And he leaves but memory's token 
To recall to mind that castle 

In the kingdom of the Soul. 



38 



THE CASTLE. 



I am standing mid the ruins 

In the kingdom of the Soul — 
Mid the crumbling, shattered ruins 

In the kingdom of the Soul. 
And the weeds have choked the flowers 
Blooming once within these bowers; 
And the vine-encircled towers, 

All in fragments, round me roll. 
Slimy reptiles here are crawling; 
And a demon-laugh, appalling. 
Echoes through these gloomy ruins ' 

In the kinofdom of the Soul. 




UNFOR(iOTTEN. 39 

Hnforgattcu. 

IIY beauty shone on me, when first 
^(^ My love for thee had birth, 
^ As morning's beams in glory burst 
Upon the waking earth. 

I saw thee, loved thee, sought thy hand; 

My heart was drawn to thee: 
As summer sunshine to the land 

Thy presence was to me. 

But clouds on winter's evening blast 
Obscured the sunshine bright, 

And all my hopes went out at last 
In dark and starless night. 



40 UNFORGOTTEN. 

We parted friends, but 0, how sad 
That parting was to me 1 

Thy voice bade me forget I had 
Linked thoughts of love and thee. 

Since then I, under other skies, 
Have sought dark Lethe's stream ; 

But thoughts of thee will ever rise, 
And oft in fevered dream 

I call thy name, and start from sleep 
To mourn my lonely lot ; 

For I my weary way must keep — 
Thou canst not be forgot. 



WRECKED. 41 

lllvcckcb, 

^(dftli^ heart is at sea, tempest-tost and dis- 



4 



cK trest— 
^ 0, when shall it enter the haven of rest ? 
Driven hither and thither — the sport of the 

gale — 
Without rudder or compass or rigging or sail, 
My heart is at sea, tempest-tost and distrest — 
0, when shall it enter the haven of rest ? 

Once proudly its sails were unfurled to the 

breeze, 
And swiftly it s}ied o'er the sun-gilded seas ; 
While nearer and nearer, majestic and grand, 
Appeared the bright shore of a beautiful land. 
With proud, swelling sail o'er the waters it 

pressed 



42 WRECKED. 

Toward the Harbor of Beauty — the haven of 
rest. 

But soon from its decks rose a cry of despair; 
For the Demons of Death were abroad in the 

air; 
And the wild tempest rose in its power and 

mio^ht, 
And the beautiful harbor was shrouded in night ; 
And my heart, wrecked and shattered, and 

sorely opprest. 
Was borne far away from the haven of rest. 

And now the fierce lightnings that crash 

throuo-h the air 
Light the face of the Pilot, all mute with despair, 
As, through the thick darkness, amid the wild 

roar, 
His eye seeks in vain for the beautiful shore. 
0, my heart is at sea, tempest-tost and distrest — 
When, when shall it enter the liaven of rest ? 



THE PLAINS OF DAKOTA. 43 



2;l)c |!3lains of Dakota. 



■fif^j\ ^ tlie plains of Dakota I am resting 
(|)^^\£if to-night — 

4%^ On the cold, barren ground while the 
^"^ stars' feeble light 

The shadowy landscape is dimly revealing. 
As sleep's gentle presence is over me stealing ; 
My closing eyes hiding the great, starry dome 
While my soul wanders back to my far-distant 

liome. 
Dear home, where, a child, I roamed fearless 

and free. 
In the cold, l)arren wild, I am dreaming of 

thee ! 



44 THE PLAINS OF DAKOTA. 

A child again, I trudge along 
AVith ragged boys — a happ}' throng ; 
Each his little satchel bearing, 
To the old school-house repairing. 
Xow upon long benches seated 
Little lessons are repeated ; 
Xow temptation, unresisted, 
Places pins all bent and twisted 
On the spot where Sammy Brown, 
Unsuspecting, sits him down. 
8ammy, with a cry of pain, 
Quickly rises to explain, 
Just as little Tommy Bacon 
With a coughing tit is taken. 
Lo I the teacher, fiercely turning, 
(With his head chock-full of learning,) 
Rolls his angry eyes around 
Till the guilty one is found. 
And the dreaded birch and rule 
To silence awes the villas^e school. 



THE PLAINS OF DAKOTA. 45 



Again the scene has changed. I see 

A sweet, pale face, with look of sadness. 
Mj mother, smiling, comes to me — 

Receives me in her arms with gladness. 
I within her eyes am gazing — 

Eyes to me forever dear ; 
Pouring all my childish sorrows 

In my mother's listening ear ; 
In lier loving arms reposing, 

Xestling on her gentle breast. 
Softly there my eyes are closing. 

Softly sinks my soul to rest. 



The years have flown swiftly, and now, at a 

hound, 
I have traversed the highway to manhood, and 

found 
A joy, scarcely less than the angels' al)Ove, 



46 THE PLAINS OF DAKOTA. 

In tlie richest of blessings, — a maiden's pure 



love. 



While the bells, gaily ringing, proclaim the glad 
day 

When the words softly spoken shall bind us for 
aye ; 

While my heart thrills with joy in that moment 
of bliss 

When the vows at the altar are sealed with a 
kiss ; 

While I bask in the rays of the sunlight of 
love, — 

^ly eyes open wide; stars are shining above ; 

My dreams are dispelled by their dim, twink- 
ling light. 

On the plains of Dakota I am weeping to-night. 



THE FOREST STREAM. 47 



^\)t /orcst Stream. 




w 



^ AR from my thoughts, ye haunts of menl 
Let me awake from life's sad dream, 

And be a happy boy again 
Beside my native stream ! 
Again I hear the rustling leaves ; 

Again I press the velvet sod ; 
My soul a blessing noAv receives ! 
I hear the music of the spheres, 
And, rolling back the tide of years, 

Draw nearer unto God I 

Here once I roamed, a happy child, 

^N^or aught of evil dreamed ; 
When grassy mead and woodland wild 

With life and beauty teemed ; 



48 THE FOREST STREAM. 

When life itself seemed ever new, — 

A never-ending line; 
When birds and flowers of every hue, 
And rocks and trees and streamlet too 

Were mine — were wholly mine. 
I knew and loved each sight and sound : 
The tender ivy clinging round 
The oak, whose waving branches spread 
Their canopy of green overhead, 
Inwove w^ith many a golden thread 

And fringed with rays of light ; 
The old, familiar, mossy stone 
Where I would sit for hours alone, 
I knew that they were all my own, 

Xor dreamed of legal right. 

Familiar spot I How often I, 
Beneath the soft, autumnal sky, 
Reclining on my grassy bed, 
Have watched the white clouds overhead. 



THE FOREST STREAM. 49 

In fleeting shapes of beast and bird, 

And things whose names I ne'er had heard — 

With forms unknown, with waving wings, 

But wliich to me Avere livino; thini>:s ! 

Have dreamed away the liours until 

The sun behind 3'on distant hill 

His o-olden banners furled. 
These hills where earth and heaven met ; 
Where stars in glory rose and set; 
Whence the last rays of sunlight gleamed. 
Then to my childish wisdom seemed 

The confines of the world. 

Sweet stream, I come again to thee ! 
Upon thy banks, so dear to me. 
My boyhood I again renew. ^ 

The rippling of thy waters through 

Their native woodlands wild 
Brings peace unto my troubled breast. 

And lulls my weary soul to rest; 



50 THE FOREST STREAM. 

Thy gentle, ceaseless, onward flow 
Sings lullabies as soft and low 
And soothing as a mother's voice 
Is to her fevered child. 






>^^pai^ 



llir ?Dolonim» 




ICxHT upon Olivet 1 Shining in glory, 
The moon, star-attended, looks down 
from on high, 
i^ight when all Israel rehearses the story 
Of bondage beneath the Egyptian sky; 
Telling their children, with pride, how Jehovah 
Delivered their fathers from Pharaoh's hand ; 
Of the desolate fields and the waterless fountains, 
When barrenness stretched from tlie sea to the 

mountains ; 
When the rivers were blood and the wells putre- 



54 VIR DOLORUM. 

And the flocks and the herds and the people 
were dying — 
Destroyed by the Lord to enforce his demand ; 
Of the wild, piercing wail of the niiDthers of 

Egypt, 

The night the death-angel swept over the 
land. 



IGHT in Gethsemane I Softly, in silence, 
J \ The dew-drops are falling like tears from 
^y the sky. 

Flashing and sparkling and basking in moon- 
light, 
The beautiful Kedron glides joyously by. 
IN'ight in Gethsemane! Groaning in anguish. 

While his disciples are slumbering there, 
Bowed witli the sins of the world, and its 
sorrows, 
Jesus of Nazareth is kneeling in prayer : 



vir dolorum. 55 

If it be possible, take this cup from me — 
All things are possible, Father, avith thee. 

Bitter the cup — overflowing with bitter- 
ness ; 
Father, remove it, remove it from me. 

Yet, if thy avrath must be poured out upon 

ME — 

Redeeming the world by the death of thy 

SON 

If I MUST BE LED LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, 

Not my will. Father, but thy will be done ! 

r r 

«ORN in Jerusalem! Sunliglit is flinging 
Its garlands of glory o'er hill and ravine. 
- J ' Far in the olive groves sweetly are singing 
The birds in their fullness of joy at the 
scene. 
Morn in Jerusalem ! Lo, a great multitude 
Unto the Roman Pretorium bring 



56 VIR DOLORUM. 

Jesus the IS'azarene, bound, unresisting, 

In garb of a peasant, yet more than a king ; 
Him, who had come for the good of humanity — 

Leaving his high, his celestial home. 
Condemned by the priests and the council lor 
blasphemy. 

Charged before Pilate with treason to Eome. 
Meekly he Avalks in the midst of the multitude, 

Raging like lions released from their den. 
As onward they Ijear him from Pilate to Herod 

And backward from Herod to Pilate again. 

Swaying and surging with turbulent motion — 
Swaying and surging like waves of the ocean 

When lashed into fury and crested with foam ; 
Shouting and clamoring. Death to the Xazarene I 
While they the life of a robber and murderer 

Crave as a boon from their masters of Rome. 
They who but yesterday shouted hosannas — 

Making; the walls of Jerusalem ring. 



VIR DOLORUM. 57 

Waving their palms as an army their banners, 
Ready to crown him their leader and king, 

^ow cry. Away with him 1 Let him l)e cruci- 
fied I 
We unto C^sar forever will clino^ ! 

'00^'' upon Calvary ! Clouds of thick dark- 
ness 
Hang round the mountain, suspended in 
air : 
As though the drear regions of hell were de- 
serted, 
And all its dark legions were hovering there. 
High on the cross hangs the victim suspended ; 
Darker the shadow descends from the skies. 
Until at last, the great agony ended. 

Yielding to death. It is finished ! he cries. 
Jerusalem shuddered! Wild echoes upstarted. 
Leaped down from the mountain and rushed 
o'er the plain. 



05 VIR DOLORUM. 

The Light from the Holy of Holies departed ; 

The veil of the Temple was sundered in twain. 
Israel, then were thy barriers broken — 

As God's chosen people thy banners were 
furled ! 
The stream that flows outward from Calvary's 
mountain 
Bears on to oblivion the sins of the world 1 







ISCELLANIES. 




^fpHE daylight has faded, and, far in the 
west, 



The star of the evenino; is sinkins; to rest. 
The gray of the landscape invites to repose ; 
The dew-drops are fresh on the cheek of the 

rose, 
Which, basking all day in the sun's cheering 

light, 
Xow breathes in sweet fragrance. Good night, 

love, good night I 



The songs of the birds are all hushed save the 

shrill. 
The love-laden notes of the lone whip-poor-will. 



62 GOOD NIGHT. 

And the cry of the owl in the old hollow tree. 
O, sad are the thoughts that they bring unto 

me! 
For darkness has come and has banished the 

light ; 
And now I must leave thee. — Good night, love, 

good night I 

Good night ! and may visions of joy and of love 
Fill the hours of thy sleeping ; may Peace, like 

a dove. 
With white, folded wings, make her home in 

thy breast. 
And the songs of the Seraphim lull thee to rest. 
Surrounding thy pillow, may angels of light 
Keep watch o'er thy slumber. — Good night, 

love, good night ! 




I LOVE YOU. 63 



3 CoDc Doit. 

^ARLIKG, I love you! 

Far dearer to me 
Than the gold of the earth 

Or the gems of the sea 
Is the hope that ere long 

I may call you my own. 
Darlhig, I love you — 

I love you alone ! 

Darling, I love you ! 

It grieves me to see 
With what icy indifference 

You look upon me, 
When for days and for weeks 

And for months you have known. 
Darling, I love you — 

I love you alone ! 



64 



I LOVE YOU. 



Darling, I love you, 

In spite of your frown ! 
I love — I will love you 

Until I go down 
To the grave of my fathers- 

Witli fame, or unknown. 
Darling, I love you — 

I love you alone 1 




THE poet's apology. 65 



Myk H^ scornful frown it needed not, 
1^1 in) ^OY haughty air so queenly, 
^ To teach my broken spirit what 
It felt, alas I too keenly. 

Xo bitter taunts, no cruel wrongs, 
No words of scorn were needed, 

To tell me that my tender songs 
Were all by thee unheeded. 

Yet blame me not if still I sing 
(As is the poet's duty) 

In praise of thee, the fairest thing 
In all the realm of Beauty. 



66 DRINKING SONG. 



mrinkinqi Song. 



'^^ OME ADES, fill your glasses high, 
^i&\ AVhile the hours are fleeting ; 
Let the breeze which passes by 

Bear to her our greeting — 
Her whose power my soul has owned 

In ni}^ breast a palace 
I have reared, and there enthroned 

Lovely Lady Alice. 
Gather round the brimming bowl 1 

Drain the crystal chalice I 
Drink to her who rules my soul — 

Drink to Lady Alice ! 



DRINKING SONG. 67 

Let us c|uaif the rosy wine — 

From its treasures borrow 
Dreams of bliss and joys divine ; 

Banish care and sorrow — 
Till our souls are soaring, free 

From every thought of malice ; 
Then our lips will worthy be 

To speak the name of Alice. 
Gather round the 1 u'imming bowl 1 

Drain the crystal chalice 1 
Drink to her who rules my soul — 

Drink to Lady Alice 1 



^. 



68 RECONCILIATION. 



Ucconciliaticn. 

') ^ ^ TIIAIS'Iv thee, love, for smiles and 
^y^% frowns — 

^^(iv- por warmtli and coldness since I've 
known thee ; 
For every changing mood in which 
Thy changeful mind has shown thee. 

I thank tliee for thy cruel words — 

Those words that caused our separation ; 

Else I had never known the joy 
Of reconciliation. 



PARADISE. 



69 



I HAD often read with doubt, 
j^^^. Ere I had seen the portals, 
'\^^ The holy book which told al)out 
Paradise for mortals. 

That radiant land beyond the skies 
Seemed something so ideal ; 

But since I looked in thy bright eyes 
Paradise is real. 






70 THE JOURNEY. 



^\)t 3inxruct3. 




^ AIR child, where art thou going ? 
,5 I asked a bright-eyed boy 
Wliose golden locks were flowing 

As he bounded on in joy. 
His cheeks were flushed and ruddy 

In the morning air so cool. 
He replied, I go to study, 

And he pointed to the school. 



Young man, where art thou going 
With brightly polished gun 

And glittering sabre glowing 
In the rays of the noonday sun ? 



THE JOURNEY. 71 

! I long to live in story 

As my country's strongest shield, 

And I go to seek for glory 
On the bloody battle-field. 

Old man, where art thou o-oino; — . 

AYhat great journey hast begun 
As thy silvery locks are glowing 

In the rays of the setting sun ? 
He raised his head so hoary 

Toward heaven's brilliant dome, 
And his eyes seemed lit with glory 

As he said — I'm o-oins^ home ! 



72 TO ETTA. 



ilo €ttn. 



O J I <■"-..,< o) 



J£ffSHE tliirstiiio" traveler in his dreams, 
ys^Ss^^ffi While resting on the desert sand, 
? ^fel^ Beholds with joj' the cooling streams 



That deck his native land ; 
The sailor wrecked upon the sea, 

While clinging to a floating spar. 
Dreams of his home and longs to he 

Where all his dear ones are ; 
The waiting saint as death draws near. 

With age and want and pain opprest, 
With eye of faith sees heaven appear. 

And longs to be at rest : 
So I, whose thirst for home and love 

Wrought fevered visions in my sleep ; 



TO ETTA. 73 

Whose hopes Avere wrecked as, like the dove, 
I wandered o'er the trackless deep. 

Sought love's pure stream which in its strength 
I knew must somewhere flow for me — 

Sought home and heaven until at length 
I found them all in thee. 




IPPLES 



®l)c a5ucninq Cl)aut at ^ccotink 



W.E sat alone in the organ loft 
^^/ As the funeral train approached tlie 
A^ip, door ; 

The man whose skill had won the heart 
And charmed the ear of Leonore. 



With bated breath and parted lips 
And eyes uplifted would she drink 

The strains that flowed from the finger tips 
Of the oro-anist at Accotink. 



78 THE EVENING CHANT AT ACCOTINK. 

Xor with Ills notes alone he wooed 
The lovely maid, sweet Leonore, 

But with his vows he oft pursued 
Her even to her father's door. 



But there he stopped, for, be it known. 
The poor musician dared not think 

That he could claim for his alone 
The richest girl of Accotink. 



" Xo, no, my daughter shall not wed," 
Her stern old father oft would say, 

" A man who for his daily bread 
ClaAVS ivory on the Sabbath day." 

'No^Y that the father's voice was hushed 
In death's dread silence evermore. 

What strano;e sensations o'er him rushed 

As the corpse was brought to the open door ! 



THE EVENING CHANT AT ACCOTINK. 79 

He heard not the sobs of the grief-stricken ones ; 

He saw not the coffin as borne up the aisle 
By the best and the noblest of Accotink's sons ; 

To him 'twas a wedding — his own — all the 
while. 

As he sat with his lingers caressing the keys, 
And dreamed of the bliss that awaited him 
soon, 
While the parson was praying, and all on their 
knees, 
He struck the first chords of his favorite tune. 

How it startled them all as a grand wedding 

march 
Filled the chancel, the aisle, and the echoing 
arch. 
And even crept up in the spire I 
And, 0, the wild waltzes, fandangoes, and such 
That sprang from the keys at the magical touch 
Of the organist up in the choir ! 



80 THE EVEXINd CHANT AT ACCOTINK. 

Then rose the cry, as lierce tumult 
Through all the congregation spread, 

"Who is the man that dares insult 
The sacred memory of the dead ? " 

They dragged him from the organ stool 
And brought him to the altar rail ; 

" Cast out," they cried, '^ the drunken fool ! 
Xor hearkened they unto his tale. 

"You are dismissed," the parson said — 
" Dismissed," said he, " in deep disgrace. 

How dare you thus insult the dead. 
Or thus profane this holy place ? " 



That night he wandered forth alone — 
He wandered hy the river's brink ; 

But what Ijefell was never known 
Amono- the folks at Accotink. 



THE EVENING CHANT AT ACCOTINK. 81 

Yet oft, they say, when silence reigns. 
And twilight falls on church and spire, 

The organ's solemn, dirge-like strains 
And plaintive chantings fill the choir : 

'' Whisky Straight, thou scourge of earth 

By means of thy infernal drink 
I lost my honor, lost my berth, 

And found my death at Accotink 1 " 



s^e^^^ 



/- <^ ^^ 






82 OLD GORMAN. 



©15 ©oviuaiL 




LD GORMAX is a man of means — 
_^ Plas wealth at his connnancl, 
7&^ And in his choice of food he leans 
To the fattest of tlie land. 



He, always in the eating mood, 
Heeds not the voice of reason. 

But craves the highest-seasoned food 
AiForded hy the season. 

When he has mustered all the aids 

His appetites employ, 
And cayenne pepper w^arms his throat, 

He feels such inward joy 



OLD GORMAN. 88 

That from liis swiftly-moving cliiii 

Roll tears in utter rout : 
Which tell of raging fires within 

That put the w^aters out. 

The sad effects of suppers late 

He never stops to (piestion, 
Although his tailings indicate 

Success in indigestion. 

Yet all his wealth, old Gorman knows, 
Small pleasure now can yield ; 

The gout has settled in his toes ; 
He cannot get them healed. 

0, baneful wealth ! 0, cursed fate ! 

Unutterable woe 1 
High living from his high estate 

Has brought old Gorman low^ ! 



84 OLD GORMAN. 

His face is flushed ; his eyes are red ; 

Pain dwells in every liml) ; 
And, down upon his downy bed, 

All things are up with him. 

80 there he lies and dams his eyes 
To keep the tears from rising ; 

But not until old Gorman dies 
Will he cease gormandizing. 



^j^Aa.o' 






ELEGY. 85 

Dn the Peath of ^usie's ^itten. 

j^ERE lie the remains of a poor little cat 
^ Whose fangs never entered the throat of 
^' a rat. 

He never awakened the wild midnight 

For free from all guile was this kitten of 

Susie's. 

Come, Pussies and Kitties, come weep for the 

brave — 
The promising champion, now laid in the grave! 
And, Tommies, rejoice ! ye escaped from sore 

bruises 
When Death laid his hand on this kitten of 

Susie's. 



»b ELEGY. 

What wild caterwaulings encircle the earth ! 
What wails of posterity cheated of birth ! 
What warriors and maidens the feline race loses 
By the early demise of this kitten of Snsie's ! 

And Susie, fair Susie, sits mourning her pet ; 
Her breast heaves with anguish, her cheeks they 

are wet ; 
Deep grief for her loss her fair bosom infuses: 
And ni}' heart it is grieved by this sadness of 

Susie's. 




JEMMY M BRIDE. 87 



3cmmij illcBriic. 

n" ^'^Mlitl'^ ^'^'^ known far and wide — was old 
'"^"^il HI Jei^^^^y ^IcBride, 

I fe%^^ ^ free-hearted Irishman fresh from 
the bog ; 
He'd been drunk for ten years — since his okl 
mother died 
And left him the money that bought him his 
grog. 

He came home one night and, as was his delight, 
Called in his three neighbors, Mike, Patrick, 
and J(^hn ; 
They were friends lirm and fast while his money 
might last. 
But ready to drop him when that should be 
i2:one. 



• 



88 JEMMY m'bRIDE. 

'' Musha, nayburs," said he, ''all our pleasures 
are o'er, 
Fur life is a burthen unless we are drunk ; 
I have spint the last oint, and that jug on the 
floor 
Contanes the procaids of the ould woman's 
thrunk — 

" May God rist her sowl 1 Micky, All up the 
bowl. 
And to-night, like a lord, 111 retire to my 
bed, 
But, och ! not a taste ! like an ignorant baste 
I'll be so])er to-morrow. — I'd rather be dead I " 



Xext morning the body of Jemmy McBride 
Was found in his cabin, life-burdened no 
more ; 



JEMMY m'bRIDE. 89 

From his neck to the rafters a rope had been 
tied, 
And his feet lacked six inches of touchino- 
the floor. 



Then a crowd gathered round, and a jury was 
found, 

And they sat on the body of Jemmy McBride. 
The doctors all said that old Jemmy was dead, 

And the jury agreed that it teas suicide. 

'' Fur," said Mike, ''we wur all in his cabin last 
night. 
An' we talked o' the glories o' Erin's green 
isle, 
An' we sung her ould songs as our hearts grew 
so light — 
But the whisky was fast disappearin' the 
while. 



90 JEMMY m'bRIDE. 

'' Thin a sadness prevailed Avhere afore liad been 
mirth ; 
Our sorrows an' Erin's brought tears to aich 
eye ; 
An' Jemmy he said he was tired o' this earth — 
Whin the whisky was gone thin he wanted 
to die 1 



" So, wliin no more remained — whin the last 
dhrop was dhrained, 
An' poor Jemmj^'s heart Avas as heavy as lead, 
We said our good-byes wid big tears in our 
eyes, 
An' thin suicided him till he was dead. 



" Fur Jemmy, d ye see, had been kind to us 
three — 
Like brothers Ave'd been since liis ould mother 
died ; 



JEMMY m'bRIDE, 91 

An' wicl him in disthress, shure we could'nt do 
less 
Than that bit uv a fayvur fnr Jemmy 
McBride." 




92 THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY. 



^[)t Sjtdb of tl)c /amilij 



^s^ 



k ESIDE a farmer's cottage door 
^ His boys and girls were playing ; 
^ Along the dusty road a poor 

Wayfaring man was straying. 

A hungry man in search of work — 
'No honest labor scorning ; 

And many a mile had traveled he 
That sultry summer morning. 

And now, as he drew near the house 
With fear and apprehension, 

These meny, laughing little ones 
Arrested his attention. 



THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY. 93 

The sight of broad and smiling fields— 
Of children bright and cheery, 

And sound of ringing laughter soothed 
The traveler worn and weary. 

'' I'll ask for work once more," said he, 
l^ew hope in him upspringing. 

As in his ears those sounds of glee 
From children's lips were ringing. 

With cheerful heart he trudged along, 

But, as he reached the door, 
Was startled by such sounds as he 

Had never heard before. 

It seemed as though within that house 

A storm was fiercely raging. 
Or savages in bitter strife 

Were then and there enga2:ing. 



94 THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY. 

lie knocked, and then there came a hill— 
A calm the storm succeeding ; 

The door was opened by a man 

Whose face was torn and bleeding ; 

A woman's hands clutched in his hair ; 

Her face adorned with scratches ; 
Upon the floor great spots of gore 

And tufts of hair in patches. 

Around the room the crumbling walls 
AYere battle-stained and battered ; 

And broken chairs and crockery Avare 
Promiscuously were scattered. 

" Are you the boss ? " the traveler asked, 

As they again collided. 
" That question, stranger," said the man, 

'•'As yet is undecided." 



A MUSICAL MISFORTUNE. 95 



1i iltusical iWsfovtunc, 



;^^ power to }>lay the ])lano-fortay 
CA/ How many the Fates will importune ! 
^ But I crawl with ease o'er the ivory keys 
And that is m}^ greatest misfortune. 

'T was only last night that I stopped in at Sue's, 

To call on the girl of my heart ; 
But only to iind what a lover may lose 

B}^ the practice of musical art. 

The golden-winged moments flew rapidly 
past — 

Perhaps 'twas an hour or more ; 
For time was unnoted by us — till, at last, 

Sam Jones swaggered in through the door. 



96 A MUSICAL MISFORTUNE. 

(I hate his hhick whiskers and glossy mustaclies ; 

His hair with its frizzles and curls ; 
His neatness of dress, and his free, easy manners ; 

For these are all liked l)y the girls.) 

He drew up a chair whei^e we eozily sat 
On the sofa (disturbing my dream.) 

He inveigled sweet Sue in a raml)ling chat 
About " music " my favorite theme. 

Then remarked, "Sir, they say that to hear 
when you play 

Is a treat that the gods might enjoy.*' 
He smiled as he spoke, for he thought it a joke 

My sweet tete-a-tete to destroy. 

Then Susie spoke softly^ and with a sweet smile 
Exposing each white, 2'>early dental, 

" Do play uth a tliolo, or thing uth a thong ; 
Thomething thoothing and thweet — thenti- 
mental."' 



A MUSICAL MISFOKTUNE. 97 

As I could not resist Susie's sweet, winning 
manner, 

Of course, with a smile, I complied. 
So I seated myself at Miss Susie's piano, 

And Jones popped him down by her side. 

I played /or^e,|?/a?zo, and t\iQn inanissimo — 
What sound was that I then heard ? 

I turned quickly round and I saw Susie kiss 
him, ! 
I could not utter a word. 

She leaned on his breast in a soft, loving 
manner ; 

His right arm encircled her middle ; 
And, though I had striven to play the piano, 

I found I had played second fJcUe ! 



98 THE PRODIGAL. 

''Bring liither the fatted calf and kill it.""— Luke x\ :'23. 



>,vr^ HE crystal tide of Jordan swept 
U^ AVhere fruitful vineyards smiled ; 
An aged father "wildly "wept 
O'er his repentant child. 

His long-lost, erring, suffering son, 
For "^vhom his heart had yearned — ■ 

His idolized but -wayward one — - 
His wanderer had returned. 

" He lives ! He lives ! whom I thought dead 

My soUy though sin-beguiled ! 
Bring forth the richest robe," he said, 

"And place it on my child ! 



THE PRODIGAL. 99 

" Throw open wide my mansion door ; 

Let every heart be light ; 
Call old and young and rich and poor 

Unto my feast to-night ! " 



There's music on the evening air 

From harp and pipe and voice ; 
And up to heaven the angels bear 

The glad refrain : " Rejoice ! " 

As darkness falls upon the earth, 

And stars in heaven shine, 
The banquet halls are filled with mirth — 

The guests are glad with wine. 

" Long life," they shout, " to the boy returned ! " 

The rosy wine they quaif. 
'Tis a joyful night for all concerned 

Except the fatted calf I 



100 BREVITY. 



I T X loved a fair maiden with dark, flashing 

^^^(ic- Where the fires of deep passion did 

smolder ; 
Afid I longed for the day when, possessed of 
the prize. 
In my arms I should gently enfold her. 



To that bliss I aspired although Kature — so 
mean — 

Had wofully shortened my stature ; 
But a spider-like rival appeared on the scene 

And spread his nets slyly to catch her. 



BREVITY. 101 

And though I could invite her to poesy's feast 
By the verse of my artful contrival, 

I was forced to admit that, in stature at least, 
I was far overtopped by my rival. 

I wooed her with verses. I brought to her feet 
The rich gems of my art in profusion ; 

And cherished, the while, a deliciously sweet 
But, alas ! evanescent delusion. 

I fondly believed that my genius alone, 
(Which is destined to endless survival,) 

Was more than a match for the muscle and 
bone 
Of tlie one extra foot of my rival. 

So I wooed her with verses, — with figures of 
speech ; 

Every line with my ardor was laden ; 
I sought by poetical measures to reach 

The heart of the obdurate maiden. 



102 BREVITY. 

But she answered my pleadings, with voice low 
and sweet, 

" To no purpose my presence you're haunting ; 
You woo me in vain with poetical feet 

While a foot to your stature is wanting ! " 




^ter4«^^™ 



THE villaCtE cobbler. 103 




il{)t llillagc Cobbler 



COBBLER dwelt in Moreham town 
For many years together ; 
% His all of fortune and renown 
Was centered in his leath 



S 



her. 



He sometimes swore such horrid oaths— 

To swearing he was prone — 
Tiiat though he found his neighbors' soles, 

'Tis feared he lost his own. 

Yet, ever in a merry mood. 

He never was downcast ; 
Although he knew his next day's food 

Depended on his last. 



104 THE VILLAGE COBBLER. 

Within his shop there came, one day, 
A man, who staggered slowly ; 

The cobbler swore at him and said, 
" You're drunk, by— all that's holy ! '' 

He tottered to a vacant chair, 

A pitiable sight. 
And made reply : " It is not I, 

But these blamed boots that's tight 1 

" Beliold me ! me who g'dily stept 
From out your shop this morn ; 

Amazed to find what anguish slept 
In my one little corn. 

'' I strode along, with step elate, 

Escorting Sally Rivers ; 
But ere I reached her garden gate 

My gait was knocked to shivers I 



THE VILLAGE COBBLER. 105' 

" I tried to talk of love. Alas 1 

Mj lips with pain were dumb. 
My swelling foot — 0, fearful pass ! — 

An aclier had become. 



'' The village bojs, all mocking, said : 
' There goes old Bill}' Carter ; 

He thinks he is some punkins, but 
He's only a toe-martja- ! " 

^' All bootless was my wrath, for she- 
She laughed at their grimaces ; 

And I, in these, had thought to step 
At once in Sally's graces ! 

" They give me fits ! " The cobbler smiled 
Looked fearless and undaunted. 

" My friend," said he, '' you came to me 
And said 'twas ' tits ' you wanted ! " 



lOtj THE VILLACtE cobbler. 

" Aha ! jou joke," the martyr spoke. 

" Thus, then, the matter stands : 
111 take these boots from off my feet 

And leave them on your hands ! " 

He spoke in harsh and angry tone. 
The while his brow grew dusky. 

The corn had so absorbed him that 
His voice was even husky. 

lie tried in vain to draw them from 
His swollen feet, and then — 

The cobbler showed him to the door 
And booted him ao:ain ! 






















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